Composite insignia pressed metal ring, pin, or other ornament and method of its manufacture



Dec, 13, 1938. F. WHITAKER 2,140,396

COMPOSITE INSIGNIA PRESSED METAL RING, PIN, OR OTHER ORNAMENT AND METHOD OF ITS MANUFACTURE Filed July 28, 1936 Fake/77;;

Patented Dec. 13, 1938 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE Frederic Whitaker, Cranston, R. 1.

Application July 28, 1936, Serial No. 93,054

4 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in stamped metal rings, brooches, pins or other ornaments and their method of manufacture.

While I am aware that others have made or- 5 namental rings consisting of a plurality of pieces or parts, so far as I am aware, these have either consisted of a one piece ring provided with a flat area for the engraving of a monogram, emblem or otherwise thereon or else have consisted of a plurality of parts including a stone or separate piece to provide a major portion of ornamentation for the ring face. So far as I am aware no one has provided a two piece ring or other ornament structure in which a portion only of the face is ornamented preferably with general ornamentation during the stamping operation to provide an unornamented area for the reception of the emblem, initial or other member bearing specific ownership designating indicia and such separate emblem, initial or other member 1s adapted to be later attached in said unornamented area.

I believe I am the first, therefore, to provide a stamped metal ring or ornament in which portions of the face thereof are ornamented to eliminate the necessity of separate stones or other ornamental pieces formerly thought necessary for this purpose.

A further object of my invention. is to provide a separate emblem for said unornamented area which may be readily and quickly attached thereto on order thus to cheaply provide a substitute which may be quickly fabricated in large quantities and quickly individually attached for the expensive engraving hitherto thought necessary on unornamented ring or ornament areas.

In my preferred embodiment, I preferably stamp a depression in the ring or ornament face while ornamentally stamping the other portions of the face exterior of said depression so as to receive a monogrammed or otherwise ornamented emblem or insert therein having an. ornamented surface adapted to lie on the finished article substantially flush with the other ornamented face portions to provide an ornamental face of unitary composite design for the ring or ornament.

My invention is peculiarly adapted for use with the so-called type of composite insignia rings or ornaments wherein one portion, such as the shank or ornamented portion of the face, is provided with general ornamental indicia and selected specific complemental indicia are desired to be selectively added thereto on order. I will take class rings or pins as being illustrative of this type wherein. the ring shank or ornamented por tions of the face may be stamped with the year for the general ornamental insignia and the specific complemental selected insignia is. that specific to the school from which the student graduates. 5

I am aware that others have stamped the ring shank with such general ornamental indicia, such as the year, but they have had to go to the trouble and expense either of separately engraving on the unornamented portion of the face the 10 school'or of individually making up on order the emblem to add thereto, such emblemv usually being attached to stones or other ornaments.

I believe that I have gone a step further in simplifying the manufacture of such a composite 15 insignia ring or ornament and particularly expediting the time of delivery thereof on final order for the specific selected insignia. Employing my method I stamp for stock a plurality of pieces, comprising a ring shank and face, stamp 0 said pieces with general ornamental insignia and shape said shanks into circular ring formation tohave on hand a stock of said so stamped ring or ornament pieces. I also stamp for stock a plurality of different sets of ornamental emblems or inserts each having simultaneously stamped thereon the selected complemental specific insignia of a sufficient number of sets to cover the field of normally desired specific insignia. Then on order, it is merely necessary to rigidly secure the ornamental emblem bearing the specific insignias specifically ordered and rapidly secure it upon the unornamented area of the face to cooperate with the general insignia already stamped on the piece to provide the desired composite in- 35 signia. on the ring or ornament. Thus with class rings or pins there are, for instance, only a limited number of parochial schools, in most of which the letters consist chiefly of SS, and it is merely necessary to make up substantially less than the full alphabet of sets of emblems in which different individual respective letters are inserted for the name of the Saint, such as A for Agnes, J for Joseph, T for Thomas. In. high schools or grammar schools located in the average size city, the necessary sets of emblems to make up are corresponding letters, as for instance, all the high schools would have the letters HS and the entire field would normally have 50 the letters E. H. S. for English or East, T. H. S. for Technical, etc. Thus employing my improved method of manufacture and assembly I am enabled by having a large stock of shank or face pieces on hand and a large stock of dif- 55 ferent sets of emblems on hand to fill rapidly any order as given.

My invention relates to further improvements in the method of manufacture which permits the entire manufacture of the shank and/or face ornament blank including the shaping of the shank and face, the ornamental stamping of the shank, the ornamental stamping of the face exterior of the unornamented area, the stamping of the unornamented depression if employed and the stamping of the hole in the unornamented depression or area thereby simultaneously and economically accomplishing the entire manufactureof this part in a single stamping operation, and so with the emblems or inserts to permit them to be initially shaped and simultaneously selectively stamped with the desired specific insignia also in one operation. This system reduces the manufacturing steps to fournamely, (1) the stamping of the shank and face with its proper ornamentation, (2) the shaping of the shank to ring formation, (3) the stamping of the emblem or insert with the desired ornamentation and (4) the insertion of the selected insert on order upon the unornamented area of the face. While the aforesaid stamping operations are preferably conducted on each piece simultaneously, it is apparent, however, that they may take place successively if desired.

It is further apparent that by the standardization accomplished by my improved method of manufacture, thus for instance, standardizing the manufacture of class rings or ornaments to a single line, that I am enabled to effect large economies in manufacturing costs and eliminate the-large number of dies formerly thought necessary, such as. to make a line of class rings or ornamented pins.

These and such other objects of my invention as may hereinafter appear will be best understood from a description of the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan View of a unitary stamped piece comprising a stamped ring shank and face prior to the shank being shaped in ring formation and showing the end result of what may be step (1) of my improved method.

Fig. 2 is a disassembled perspective view of the piece shown in Fig. 1 having the shank shaped and joined together in ring formation, step (2) of my method, and in relative position of assembly, the completely stamped insert or emblem bearing the desired specific selected insignia thereon, the stamping and. fromation of which may comprise step (3) of my improved method.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a completed ring'with the stamped emblem or insert duly attached on order to the stamped face and shank of the ring, step (4), or the final step of my process.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View through the assembled ring taken along the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view looking upwardly taken along the line 55 of Fig. 4 and showing the face of the ring in reverse plan.

Fig. 6 is a face view of a class pin constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. '7 is a vertical sectional view of the class pin shown in Fig. 6' taken along the line 1-! thereof.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of 7 reference indicate like parts throughout, l0 generally indicates a two piece pressed metal composite insignia finger ring constructed in accordance with my invention. Said ring includes the piece [2 comprising a standard shank l4 and face l6 and the ornamented stamped insert or emblem l8 shown more particularly in Fig. 2 provided with suitable means 20 for securing the insert or emblem to the unornamented portion of the face l6 of the ring. As shown in Fig. 1, said piece I2 is preferably stamped in a single stamping operation and in the single stamping operation which simultaneously forms the fiat portions M 'and M of the shank and the face It of the piece l2. In the preferred embodiment, the portion of the shank adjacent said face may be simultaneously stamped with the general ornamental insignia 22 shown, such as the class year 1936. In the preferred embodiment of my invention, said face 16 is ornamentally simultaneously stamped on a portion or portions 24 only of the area thereof providing an unornamented area 26 thereon, said unornamented area, in my preferred embodiment, being simultaneously stamped with a hole 28. In the preferred embodiment shown, the unornamented area 25 comprises a depression 26 preferably simultaneously stamped with the formation of the shank l4 and face l't and insignia 22 and ornamented portions 24 hitherto referred to. In my preferred embodiment, the depression 26 is a central segmental depression of said face (5 and is preferably of substantially the width of and in line with the shank portions M and W. The hole 28 forms part of the means 20 for securing the ornament or emblem I8 to the unornamented portion or depression 26. While all these stamping and shaping operations are preferably performed simultaneously in a single stamping machine or press, it is obvious that they may be successively performed if desired.

As stated hitherto, one important feature of my invention is to provide an. unornamented area or stamped unornamented depression 25 on the face of the ring and to stamp the balance of the face of the ring or portions of the balance thereof with supplemental ornamentation 24, which may, if desired, comprise the general ornamental insignia 22 so that said stamped portions of said face may take the place of the ornamental stones formerly thought necessary in rings of this de scription to give the face a more ornamental appearance.

As stated hitherto, a further feature of my invention is to provide a two piece pressed metal ring structure in which the unitary stamped piece I2 comprises the standard shank M and face l2 bearing the general ornamental insignia such as the insignia 22 shown, which if desired, instead of being stamped on the shank adjacent the face, may be stamped on the ornamented portions 24 of the face. The next step of my improved method of assembly is to bend the shank portions M and [4 to ring formation and solder them together as customary in the trade to provide the circular shank M for receiving the finger as shown in Fig. 4.

As stated hitherto, the other part of my improved two piece pressed metal ring comprises the initial or other emblem or insert l8 having an ornamented face 29 which may also be stamped or shaped in a single stamping or pressing operation and simultaneously ornamented as at 29 or having specific selected insignia 34 complemental to the general insignia 22 and 24 to provide the desired composite insignia on the finished ring l0 stamped thereon, although if the composite insignia feature of my ring is not desired, this feature may be omitted. To provide means to cooperate with the hole 28 in said unornamented portion 26, I preferably provide the shank or pin means 30 projecting rearwardly from the rear surface of said emblem or ornament preferably integrally stamped in the single stamping operation necessary for the formation of the insert or emblem l8 and its ornamentation or other indicia 29 thereon, said pin being adapted to project through the hole 28 in the unornamented portion 26 of the face l6 of the base l2 and to have the end thereof suitably swedged or otherwise upset as shown at 32 in Figs. 4 and 5 to provide means to rigidly secure said insert 'or emblem l8 upon said unornamented portion 26 or within said depression 26 with the outer ornamented surface thereof substantially flush if a depression be employed, or cooperating with said other ornamented face portion 24 to provide an ornamental face of unitary composite design for said ring or ornament. While I preferably employ the pin 30 integrally stamped in the formation of the emblem or ornament I8 and the hole 28 in the unornamented portion or face, as the preferred type of means 20 for rigidly securing the emblem or insert to said unornamented portion' 26, it is obvious that, if desired, the desired ornament or emblem may be suitably attached within said depression 26 or upon said unornamented portion 26 by soldering or in any other suitable fashion. In the preferred embodiment shown, the unornamented portion or depression 26 lies horizontally centrally of the face l6 and the face I6 is of general circular formation and the insert !8 is preferably of an oblong shape of substantially the size of said unornamented portion 26 and depth of said depression 26 where employed. Said insert I8 may also be provided with the ornamented extensions 33, also preferably simultaneously stamped in the formation of the emblem I8 adapted to substantially fill out the remainder of the unornamented portion 26. Thus, in my preferred embodiment, the initials 34 may be readily stamped to project upwardly in the oblong panel 36 formed on the outer edges of the outer face of said emblem or ornament to permit the space between the panel 36 and initials 34 to be filled with enamel 38 as shown in Fig. 4 to provide a more ornamental surface for the exposed surface of said emblem.

As explained hitherto, my invention is peculiarly adapted for use in the manufacture of composite insignia rings or ornaments such as class, fraternity, fraternal or other rings or ornaments, in which a portion thereof, either the shank or face, is provided with the general ornamental insignia common to all rings of a. type and the insert or emblem is provided with specific selected indicia 34 complemental to the general indicia 22 to provide a composite insignia ring. Thus, as stated, the indicia 22 may indicate the year and the indicia 34 the initial of the school. It is thus apparent that, as the possible field of school initials is limited, and that as in the case of the parochial school rings shown, the initials consist of SS, it is merely necessary to make up sets of emblems in which the middle initial may appropriately vary in accordance with the given names of the saints, such as S. J. S. for St. Josephs School, or St. Johns School, or St. Josephines School, and I am therefore enabled to standardize the manufacture of class rings or ornaments for parochial schools by making up for stock a large plurality of ring or ornament pieces l2, stamped as aforesaid in the manner explained, and by making up the proper number of sets of emblems I8, also stamped as aforesaid, for stock so that when the order is given for a particular school, it is merely necessary to select the emblem bearing the selected desired insignia from stock to fill the order and quickly mount it within the unornamented portion 26 of said ring, thus permitting the order to be immediately filled.

It is also obvious that I have provided a structure in which each part may be completely stamped ina single operation if desired, and thus in which the steps necessary may be boiled down to a minimum of four, (1) the stamping and shaping of the flat shank and face shown in Fig. 1, (2) the shaping of the shank into circular ring formation as shown in Fig. 2, (3) the shaping and stamping of the desired number of sets of ornaments 18 as shown in Fig. 2, and (4) the rapid assembly on order of the selected ornament 18 on the piece l2 as shown in Fig. 3.

I have shown, in Figs. 6 and '7, my invention applied to an ornament l6 other than that of the face 16 of a ring, the manufacture of said ornament being otherwise similar to that hitherto described for a ring with the exception. that in step (1), the formation of the shank and any ornamentation thereon is omitted, and step (2) is omitted, the other steps in the method being identical. While such an ornament may be used for any purpose, such as part of a pin, brooch, buckle, shoe ornament, necklace, strap, pendant or otherwise, I have, as shown, applied it for use on a brooch-pin, and for this purpose have attached the pointed pin shank 40 and catch 42 thereto.

It is apparent that by this standardization of the manufacture of rings or ornaments, I have greatly simplified and standardized the manufacture of class rings or ornaments susbtantially to a single standard and simple two piece manufacturing method, and by ornamenting portions 24 of the face I6 I have eliminated the necessity for separate ornamentation formerly thought necessary in. the manufacture of rings or ornaments, and I have provided a substitute for the individual engraving on the face of the ring or ornament, formerly thought necessary, which may be produced in quantity at much less expense, omitting the necessity for the skill required in individually manually engraving the faces of the rings or ornaments as ordered.

It is understood that my invention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown and that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A two piece pressed metal composite insignia ornament, comprising a unitary stamped piece having a face, said piece being stamped with general ornamental insignia, said face being stamped with a depression and ornamentally stamped exterior of said depression and an ornamented stamped insert of substantially the size and depth of said depression having selected specific insignia having a complemental significance stamped thereon and means to rigidly secure said insert within said depression with the outer ornamented surface thereof substantially flush with said other ornamented face portions to provide an ornamental face of unitary composite design for said ornament and with said securing means concealed from view.

2. A two piece pressed metal composite insignia finger ring, comprising a unitary stamped piece comprising a shank and a substantially circular face, said piece being stamped with general ornamental insignia, said face being ornamentally stamped on a portion only of the area thereof providing a central segmental unornamented area thereon substantially in line with said shank and a stamped emblem adapted to overlie said unornamented area having selected specific insignia having a complemental significance stamped thereon and means to rigidly secure said emblem within said area with the outer ornamented surface thereof cooperating with said other ornamented face portions to provide an ornamental face of unitary composite design for said ring and with said securing means concealed from View.

3. The method of manufacturing a two piece pressed metal finger ring which comprises stamping to form a piece comprising a ring shank and face and during said forming stamping operation supplementally simultaneously stamping said piece with general ornamental insignia and ornamentally stamping a portion only of the area of said face providing an unornamented area thereon, shaping said shank into circular ring formation, stamping to form an ornamental emblem for said unornamented area and during said forming stamping operation simultaneously supplementally stamping said emblem with specific cealed from view.

indicia having a complemental significance, and rigidly securing said emblem upon said unornamented area with the outer ornamented surface thereof cooperating with said other ornamented face portion to provide an ornamental face of unitary composite design for said ring and with said securing means concealed from view.

4. The method of manufacturing a two piece presed metal ornament, which comprises stamping to form a piece having a face, and during said forming stamping operation supplementally simultaneously stamping said piece with general ornamental insignia and ornamentally stamping a portion only of the area of said face providing an unornamented area thereon, stamping to form an ornamental emblem for said unornamented area and during said forming stamping operation simultaneously supplementally stamping said emblem with specific indicia having a complemental significance, and rigidly securing .said emblem upon said unornamented area with the outer ornamented surface thereof cooperating with said other ornamented face portion to provide an ornamental face of unitary composite design for said ornament and with said securing means con- FREDERIC WHITAKER. 

